"I sent (the wedding dress) off earlier this year to be made into angel gowns for babies that don't make it home from the hospital" Bates wrote in the post, "and I'll be donating them to the NICU at Vanderbilt. Seventeen little gowns were made from my dress and as beautiful as they are, I pray they are never needed."

Bates spoke with Spouse Buzz about her decision to donate her wedding dress.

"I saw a news story a couple of years ago about a lady who had donated her wedding dress to be made into angel gowns. I got tired of seeing my dress just hanging in the back of my closet when it could be helping families in their times of need, " she told Spouse Buzz in an email. "I've never personally experienced infant loss, but that didn't stop my heart from going out to those who have."

Her photo was reposted by viral site Love What Matters, accumulating hundreds of thousands of reactions.

Since posting the photograph, Bates has been swamped with messages on Facebook. She recently posted the name of the gown-maker — realimprints.org — to her Facebook wall in response to those asking for information on how to help.

Bates hopes her Facebook post will encourage people to help the grieving families of lost infants.

"I'm hoping it can inspire people and show them there are so many people in the world who are willing to open their hearts and help others with no personal gain," she told Spouse Buzz. "You're choosing to help someone in one of their greatest times of need. In such a tragic situation, who wouldn't want to help ease the burden for a family who shouldn't have to be in that situation?"